A Personal Emergency Response System Improves Security

Updated 7/13/17 3:25pm | Along with many of my friends and colleagues, I've been troubled by recent reports of violent crimes. News of shootings in Chicago coupled with an uptick in homicides in the San Jose area has left many people concerned not only about their own safety, but the safety of their loved ones as well.

Whenever I discuss the topic of personal safety with a loved one or a friend, I mention the benefits of apersonal emergency response system(PERS), commonly known as medical alert systems.

Sometimes, this comes as a surprise to them. They think that such alert devices are only useful in medical situations, but they are also effective tools in helping seniors, or people of any age, feel safer inside their own home.

Medical Alert Systems Provide Safety

I know some older adults in the San Jose area have grown concerned with the increasing number of burglaries being reported throughout the city. Seniors who live alone can follow many safety precautions to help themselves feel safer. Whether it be installing security cameras around the home or getting an alarm system, the options are endless.

What if you want to alert the police of some suspicious behavior or contact a relative to help lessen their concerns? In these situations a PERS help button can be a useful addition to the security system. When I recommend friends and family members use a PERS for personal security, they usually ask how it's different from calling 9-1-1.

It's a reasonable question, but a mecical alert system is different for several reasons. Primarily, it does not automatically bring users into contact with emergency personnel. Instead our members speak with an operator who will talk to them, assess the situation and put them in touch with whoever is the best option - whether it is the police or a nearby neighbor.

As we age our perceptions become impaired and you may not be certain it’s a real emergency. Calling the authorities for a false-alarm can add up to a large fee. With a PERS, you receive unlimited button presses at no additional charge!

Whether it’s a false alarm or a pressing incident, we respond any time of day. You get immediate help at the push of a button. Further, our Command Center lets you customize and select who responds to you in the event of an emergency.

Protect Yourself Even Further

A personal emergency response system is not the only way family members can help elderly relatives protect themselves. You can help eliminate the threat of seniors being victims of burglaries and similar crimes. A friend of mine whose elderly father is concerned about someone breaking in late at night made a few home improvements throughout the house to make sure it was more secure.

One thing he made sure to check was making sure his father had strong locks on his windows and doors. Regardless of the crime rate or security of your neighborhood, everyone should have secure locks on all possible entries into the home. It can be easy to overlook the quality of locks, but there's a big difference between strong, well-made locks and products that can be easily broken through.

There are also some smaller changes that can improve security around the home. For instance, making sure the house looks like it's lived in is crucial. Burglars often target residences when they think the homeowners are away. This includes everything from maintaining your garden, mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, picking up the newspaper and installing motion-sensor floodlights in entrances.

Are You Protected?

Home security is undoubtedly a complex issue. With as more high-profile crimes make it into the news, it's understandable for seniors and younger adults alike to be concerned. Now, you have several PERS and help button options to feel safer in your own home.